Let’s discuss ‘how to change policies’ with the public

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Let’s discuss ‘how to change policies’ with the public

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo said the development of the situation in the 10 months since the JCP Central Committee 5^th Plenum shows that the actual development of the present political situation corroborates the JCP Program’s analysis regarding the present and future outlook of Japanese society and the world.

In the JCP Executive Committee report to the 6^th Plenum of the JCP Central Committee (24^th Congress) on July 11, Shii focused on the following three points: (1) the dramatic development of the political situation anticipated in the JCP Program; (2) the present stage of party activity in preparation for the House of Representatives general election and new points of emphasis; and (3) the need to increase support to activities among young people, in particular the Democratic Youth League of Japan.

Participants in the plenum had a lively discussion on recent JCP activities since the 5th Central Committee Plenum last September.

Shii pointed out that the past ten months since the former plenum proved the correctness of the JCP Program, referring to numerous changes taking place in various fields. He said that the public has begun to pay more attention to and place greater expectations on the JCP.

“These changes have not taken place automatically. They are a product of party members’ proactive efforts,” he stressed.

First, Shii pointed out that the rampage of “neo-liberalism” promoting the law of the jungle has furthered contradictions in living conditions. “If we are to seriously consider the future of Japan, we cannot sidestep the need for a radical reform to realize economic democracy as set out in the JCP Program,” he added.

Shii analyzed the new developments in areas such as employment, social welfare, food, agriculture, the global environment, the consumption tax, speculative money, and macroeconomic policy.

He stressed that the task now is to isolate those advocates of a consumption tax rate increase, and call for measures to defend day-to-day living conditions in connection with the rising prices of oil and food.

Second, Shii stressed that on the issue of war and peace, the current in favor of peace is gaining strength and momentum.

He denounced Japan for continuing its subservience to the U.S. by dispatching the Self-Defense Forces overseas; accepting many U.S. military bases; attempting the revision of the peace Constitution, and being reluctant to address the urgent task of abolishing nuclear weapons.

He pointed out that the JCP Program, which is calling for an end to Japan’s subservience to the U.S. and peace based on the United Nations Charter, is in accord with the worldwide current for peace.

Third, Shii analyzed the emerging political situation, in which capitalism itself is being called into question. As many people have come to argue about the “limits of capitalism,” the JCP’s view on this issue is attracting public attention. Referring to the major domestic and international changes taking place today, he called on party members to reach out to the public and explain the JCP Program’s rich content that presents a far-reaching solution to this issue.

Stressing that the coming general election campaign will be a tough one, he said, “The main issue in the coming general election is not choosing a party that will take power. The real issue should be how we should change government policy itself.”

Shii proposed to explain to voters that “only the JCP with more seats in the Diet will help achieve what you want.”

As regards the issue of party building, Shii proposed to attract a million people in meetings that the JCP holds throughout the country, in which party members in every JCP branch explain how the JCP Program envisions Japan’s future.

He also proposed to increase the JCP supporters’ associations and hold meetings or speech rallies at every local administration and/or administrative district.

He warned that the JCP must increase its effort to make a success of the drive to increase the party membership and the Akahata readership if the party is to emerge victorious in the coming general election.

He proposed setting goals to be achieved by the end of the year: Every JCP branch should admit at least one new party member; the party should receive more than 30,000 new daily Akahata subscribers and more than 138,000 new Akahata Sunday edition subscribers so that the JCP will have a larger Akahata readership than it had in the previous general election.

Concerning the urgent need to recruit more young people, Shii stressed that it is very important to understand their present hardships and pressing demands as well as their anxieties concerning their futures. Let us help them gain the perspectives needed to work to achieve an end to the present difficulties facing them, he said.

To this end, he called on all JCP district committees to work hard to help reestablish Democratic Youth League of Japan district committees.

- Akahata, July 12, 2008